The hospital room was quiet, with only the soft beeping of the monitor and the gentle hum of machines in the background. Elias lay back against the pillows, his shoulder still wrapped in clean bandages. His breathing was steady now, and the color had returned to his face.Maya sat beside him, watching him rest. She had been there all night, refusing to leave. A tray of untouched food sat on the table. She hadn’t eaten much either. Her mind was still full of everything that had happened.After a long silence, Elias slowly opened his eyes. He looked over at her and gave a faint smile. “You’re still here.”“Of course,” Maya said softly, brushing her fingers through her hair. “I told you—I’m not going anywhere.”Elias moved slightly in bed and winced, but his eyes remained alert. “How are you holding up?” he asked.“I’m… okay,” Maya replied. “A little tired. A little scared. But I’m trying to stay strong.”He gave a small nod. “You always do.”They sat in silence for a moment, just listen
The cold night air brushed against Maya’s face as she stepped out of the police station. Her thoughts were racing, but one thing stood out above all—Elias. He had taken a bullet for her. He could have died. That thought made her heart ache.She didn’t waste a second. She rushed to the nearest road, flagged down a taxi, and gave the driver the name of the hospital. Her hands trembled the whole way there. Every moment felt like an hour.When she arrived at the hospital, Maya jumped out of the taxi and ran through the doors. Her heart beat so loudly she could hardly hear anything else. At the front desk, she struggled to speak clearly.“Elias Donovan… He was brought in earlier. He was shot,” she said, her voice shaky.The nurse behind the counter looked through the records. “He’s stable. He’s in Room 207, second floor. But please be quiet. He needs rest.”Maya nodded quickly. “Thank you.”She hurried to the elevator, her legs feeling weak. When she reached the second floor, she followed
The police station was quiet in the early hours of the morning. Outside, the city was beginning to wake, but inside the building, the air was tense and heavy. The lights were harsh. The walls echoed with every step, every whisper.Maya sat quietly in the small interview room. The walls felt cold and bare, the lights too bright. Her hands were clasped together in her lap, her fingers trembling slightly. She had never been in a situation like this before—accused of something so terrible. Her heart felt heavy, and her mind was spinning with questions.Her hands were still trembling slightly, even though she tried to keep them still on the table in front of her. Her heart was still racing from everything that had happened—the rescue, the gunshot, the rush of flashing lights. When the detectives entered, Maya lifted her head. Her eyes were tired and filled with confusion.“Miss Maya,” the lead detective began gently, “we just need to ask you a few questions. Please try to answer clearly
The night air was filled with sirens and flashing red and blue lights as police cars lined the streets outside the old building. The once-quiet area was now crowded with officers, reporters, and flashing cameras. Yellow tape was pulled across the entrance as police secured the scene.Maya stood just outside, still catching her breath. Her heart was pounding in her chest. The fear, the panic, the chase—it was all still fresh in her mind. She didn’t care about any of it right now. Her eyes were fixed on one person.Anika.The little girl had just been rescued. She looked shaken but unharmed, her small frame wrapped in a thick blanket. Her hair was messy, and her cheeks were stained with tears, but she was safe. That was all that mattered. Anika held tightly onto Mrs. Denovan’s hand, not letting go for even a second.Mr. and Mrs. Denovan stood close to her, their faces pale and tense. They had been through a nightmare—but it was ending. When they saw that Anika was walking and unharme
Elias glanced around the shadowy hallway of the old house, then turned to Maya and the bodyguards, speaking in a low, urgent voice.“They’re upstairs… and it sounds like they’re distracted. Keep quiet.”Maya gave a tense nod, her fingers clenched tightly at her sides.The place smelled of dust and mold. Peeling wallpaper curled off the walls, and broken picture frames littered the ground.Maya’s heart was beating rapidly as they ascended the old wooden stairs. Each step produced a loud creak despite her careful movements. When they reached the top, they could hear angry voices emanating from a room down the hall. The voices were harsh and aggressive.“This whole plan is stupid!” one man shouted. “We should leave now!”“Stop being a baby!” another man yelled back. “The boss said wait, so we wait!”“But what if someone finds us? What if the police come?”“Nobody knows we’re here! Just shut up!”Maya felt nauseated hearing them speak. These criminals had taken Anika. Her little girl
The night air was tense.Maya crouched behind the overgrown fence beside Elias, her eyes fixed on the dimly lit house across the narrow road. The place looked quiet on the outside, but she couldn’t stop imagining what might be happening inside. She could almost hear Anika’s soft voice, her laughter, her small footsteps—now replaced by silence.Elias glanced at his watch. “It’s been twenty minutes,” he murmured. “The police are on their way. We wait.”Maya nodded stiffly, but her fingers fidgeted restlessly. Every second felt heavier than the last.“She’s in there,” Maya whispered again. Her voice trembled.Did you see her face?”Elias didn’t answer right away. “She looked okay. Just scared.”Maya’s eyes burned, but she blinked quickly. “She must be terrified.”Then—suddenly—raised voices burst from inside the house.Maya stiffened. She looked at Elias in alarm. “Did you hear that?”He nodded, eyes locked on the windows. A man was yelling something—they couldn’t make out the words, but